Fall means all things pumpkin, apples, pie, and spices. To help you make the most of your fall season, we’ve put together a list of 13 amazing Pumpkin Patches in Iowa full of pumpkin picking and lots of family fun! You won’t want to miss any of them, so start planning your fall trips now.

13 Amazing Pumpkin Patches In Iowa

Finding the perfect pumpkin is a family affair. The days of running to the store and picking up a pumpkin to carve for the Halloween season have passed. Instead, take a trip to the local pumpkin patch for a fun way to spend quality time with family and friends!

It’s that time of year again when families  gear up for a favorite fall tradition, one that belongs on every fall family bucket list – visiting pumpkin patches. As the air gets crisp, the trees turn shades of orange and gold, and Iowa’s pumpkin farms come to life. In this blog post, we’re diving straight into the heart of this cherished tradition, taking you on a tour of Iowa’s best pumpkin patches.

Related post – Wilson’s Apple Orchard + 9 More Amazing Apple Orchards in Iowa

Pumpkin patches have certainly evolved over the years to go above and beyond to make visits memorable. Instead of just finding pumpkins, we can look forward to attractions beyond taking the hayrack ride to the field as we search for that perfect jack-0-lantern to complete our fall decorations. Pumpkin patches offer family play areas with corn pools, mega corn mazes that challenge our navigational skills without the help of GPS, as well as giant slides, swings, snacks, farm animals, and even haunted houses.

Iowa has dozens of fantastic pumpkin patches, each providing a great variety of fun activities for families. Here are 10 family-friendly pumpkin patches around Iowa where you’ll not only find a great pumpkin, but the entire family will have a grand ol’ time too.

Pumpkin Patches in Eastern Iowa

Pride of the Wapsi in Longrove

Pride of Wapsi in Longrove features a pumpkin patch and corn maze in the fall, plus sunflower fields earlier in the summer! You’ll find more than 25 family friendly things to do there for people of all ages like gem mining and a corn pool. If that’s not enough, you’ll also want to explore their gift shops and eat all of the delicious fall flavored foods, including their very popular pumpkin spice donuts.

2024 dates: Thursdays through Sundays starting Sept 21st – Nov 3rd, 10 am – 5 pm

Address: 14600 305th St Long Grove, IA 52756

Buffalo Pumpkin Patch in Buffalo

Buffalo Pumpkin Patch has called the Kurtz farm in Buffalo home for more than 20 fall seasons. Open daily from early September through October, admission is free. However, you’ll need to purchase tickets for each activity in which you want to participate, including a hayrack ride to the pumpkin field, playing in a straw castle, as well as finding your way through a sorghum maze. Additionally, you can play laser tag or maintain your farm roots by milking a goat.

2024 dates: open daily from 9 am – 6 pm from September 14 to October 31

Address: 1500 Front St Buffalo, IA

Wilson’s Orchard & Farm in Iowa City

Not only is Wilson’s Orchard one of our favorite apple picking orchards, but they have really expanded their farm in the last few years to make them a year round agri-tainment destination. From winter ice skating to spring tulips to fall apples and pumpkins, they really have something going on almost all the time. Head out to Wilson’s Orchard to to find your favorite u-pick pumpkin or get a pre-picked pumpkin in their gift shop. While you’re there, have an apple cider donut and maybe a hard cider too! 

2024 dates: open daily, 9 am – 9 pm

Address: 4823 Dingleberry Rd NE, Iowa City, IA 52240

Colony Acres Pumpkin Patch in North Liberty

Colony Pumpkin Patch in North Liberty offers a variety of fall fun for the family. Opening mid September and running through October, your family can enjoy the season with a hayrack ride to a pumpkin field to choose the perfect gourd. Admission includes the hayrack ride (weekends only), access to a 10-acre corn maze, as well as additional play attractions, such as a corn box and low zipline.

If you like a little spooky, head to the corn maze on Friday evenings when you can visit after dark with flashlights!

2024 dates: Wednesdays – Saturday, Sept 21 – Nov 3, 10 am – 8 pm

Address:  1150 Front St., North Liberty, Iowa

Bloomsbury Farm in Atkins 

Located just outside Cedar Rapids, Bloomsbury Farm in Atkins is more than a pumpkin patch. It’s also home to Scream Acres that includes three haunted buildings and a haunted cornfield. If scary’s not for you, you’ll love their baby animals, U-Pick pumpkins, fall-themed photo ops, 10-acre corn maze, 30+ attractions for all ages.

2024 dates: Sept 13 – Oct 27 + Nov 2 Friday – Sunday, 10 am – 5:30 pm (Fridays 1 pm – 5:30)

Address: 3260 69th Street Atkins, IA  52206

Mariet’s Family Farmyard outside Muscatine

Mariet’s outside Muscatine just started its third fall farmyard season! Stop by for lots of family fun, including pumpkin painting, rat races, corn maze, pumpkin launching, pumpkin bowling, a giant slide, jumping pillow, duck races, slushees, pumpkin bars and more!!

They also have a great selection of fall decor and fresh vegetables as well.

2024 dates: Wednesday – Friday, 12 pm – 6 pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm.

Address: 4707 S Highway 61, Muscatine, IA

Pumpkin Patches in Northeast Iowa

Pinter’s in Decorah

More than “just” a pumpkin patch, Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins in Decorah is “agri-tainment.” Open weekends in October starting Oct 5th, visitors can enjoy a tractor ride to the field and choose a pumpkin. Pinter’s also invites visitors to take a trip through its giant corn maze. Play areas include an inflatable jumping pillow, pedal go-karts, a big slide and an old-fashioned game of tetherball. Enjoy concessions offering Pinter’s famous baked goods and drinks.

Pumpkin Patches in Central Iowa

There have been quite a few changes in pumpkin patches in the Des Moines area of Central Iowa. Several of the locations we’ve recommend in the past (The Pumpkin Ranch in Winterset, McCurdy’s Pumpkins in Atlantic, Geisler Farms in Bondurant) are permanetly closed. However, we’ve found a few more locations to recommend for fall family fun instead!

Howell’s Pumpkin Patch in Cumming

Howell’s Pumpkin Patch and Greenhouse outside Des Moines is a fun place to visit! With lots of goats and dried flowers too, you’ll find a lot more here than just pumpkins. Take a ride on an antique tractor to get to the pumpkin patch and corn maze plus find a special farm playground for the kiddos with pedal tractors, wiggle cars, hay stacks, mud pies, acorn box, a giant slide, and more!

2024 dates: Open daily, 10 am – 6 pm

Address: 3145 Howell Court, Cumming IA 50061

Uncle Bill’s Farm in Grinnell

Chosen as one of the 216 best pumpkin farms in the United States by Travel and Leisure, Uncle Bill’s Farm in Grinnell is a must visit! Things to do at Uncle Bill’s farm include eating at their resturant, taking a tractor ride to the u-pick pumpkin patch, playing in their corn bin, jumping on the giant pillow, and loving on their many rescue farm animals.

2024 dates: Uncle Bill’s is closed due to Uncle Bill’s heath in 2024. However, they hope to reopen in 2025.

Address: 244 400th Ave., Grinnell, Iowa

Black’s Heritage Farm in Ames

Black’s Pumpkin Patch is located just south of Ames at the Black’s Heritage Farm. Your kids will love interacting with all of the farm animals at Black’s plus you can take home everything you’ll need for fall decorating plus enough locally grown produce to make a delicious meal! Support this 5th generation family farm with a visit to Black’s.

2024 dates: Open daily from 10 am – 6 pm, last week in September through Halloween

Address: 26156 530th Ave Ames, IA

Pumpkin Patches in Southeast Iowa

Harvestville Farm in Donnellson

Open from spring to the holiday season, Harvestville offers more than 40 acres of pumpkins and other gourds on weekends mid-September through the last weekend of October. Along with the pumpkins, you can take a stroll through a 10-acre corn maze or enjoy fun and games, such as a giant corn pool, tire pyramid and bean bag toss. Enjoy fresh apple cider treats, including “dipkins” donut balls.

2024 dates: open every day through October 31.

August 31 – September 27
Mondays – Saturdays: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm

September 28 – October 27
Mondays – Saturdays: 10am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am – 7pm

October 28 – October 31: 10am – 5pm

Address: 1977 Highway 2 Donnellson, Iowa 52625

Pumpkin Patches in Western Iowa

Pioneer Trail Orchard and Pumpkin Patch in Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs Pioneer Trail Orchard and Pumpkin Patch has been greeting visitors for nearly a quarter century. Open weeknights and both weekend days Sept. 28 through Oct. 31, Pioneer encourages you to take a hayrack ride to find your favorite pumpkin or gourd.

Your family and friends can also participate in a variety of attractions, including searching for riches in the Gold Barn, finding your way through the maze in the Dark Barn and jumping around the hay pit. With Halloween around the corner, you can also visit the haunted farm house (for older children and adults) or the child-friendly haunted barn.

Scarecrow Farm in Lawton

Scarecrow Farm in Lawton is about a 15-minute drive from Sioux City and provides a fun visit for the whole family. Enjoying a hayrack ride around the farm, you have several options for selecting your pumpkin, gourd or squash. Open weekends in September beginning Sept. 14 before opening daily all of October, your visit also includes playing in a five-acre corn maze, corn-filled play box, or on large tire swings. You can also play on a 70-foot pirate ship with cannons and nets. You may also want to check out the singing chicken show.

2024 dates: Open now through Halloween, Fridays 12-7, Saturdays & Sundays 10-7

Address: 1592 Charles Avenue Lawton, Iowa 51030

Now that you have your pumpkin, here are posts on what to do with it! Free Pumpkin Carving Patterns and Easy Ways to Decorate Pumpkins without Carving. If you’re looking for fall party snacks, here you go! Healthy & Fun Snacks for the Perfect Halloween Party

For more Fall Fun in Iowa, check out these posts:

American Gothic House & Things to do in Eldon, Iowa

Iowa 80 Trucking Museum at I-80 Truck Stop

Historic Hills Scenic Byway in the Fall

Fall Harvest Tour in Franklin County, Iowa